Bag forming apparatus



L. B. EATCN BAG FORMING APPARATUSv Filed Nov. 1e, 19.39

4 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 9,*1941. 1 B. EATON BAG FORMING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 2 Wal;

Filed Nov. 16, 1939 Dec. 9,1941.y B, EATON 2,265,636

BAG FORMNG APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 1939 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR D66. 9, 1941. B, EATON l 2,265,636

BAG FORMING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 BAG FoRmNG APPARATUS Lewis B. Eaton, Quincy, Mass., assgnor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,652

8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing a tea or similar bag.

In general the object'of the invention is to provide a novel and efficient apparatus `for use in theproduction of tea, coffee or similar bags and which is particularly adapted for operation at relatively high speeds whereby to enable the bags to be produced at minimum expense.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and efficient apparatus which is particularly adapted to be incorporated in an automatic tea bagging machine tofenable the tea or coiee bag forming the subject matter of my copending application led April 29, 1939, and bearing Serial No. 270,836, to be produced in a rapid, econom- "ical and practical manner.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the apparatus for producing tea, coffee or similar bags hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In theudrawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bag forming die; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a. forming block or plunger about which the bag is formed; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the plunger; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the die and plunger showing the bag partly formed; Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views taken on the line 6-6 and l-l of Fig. l, respectively, and including the mechanism for tucking in the narrow sides of the bag 'and for clamping the mouth of the bag when the plunger is withdrawn; Figs. 8, 9, 10 andnll are perspective'views illustrating the folding plates through which the bag is passed for folding the corner flaps into overlapping ,relation on the bag; Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the bag as it looks after passing through the die; Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view through the plunger showing the formation of the bag folded thereon; and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the bag as completed by trimming the top of the bag, closing the mouth thereof and attaching a string and a tag thereto.

In. general, the present invention contemplates.

the provision of apparatus for producing a tea, coee or similar bag of the structure forming the subject matter of my copending application led April 29, 1939, and bearing Serial No, 270,836, and which in general comprises a bag preferably of soft porous lter paper formed from a single sheet folded to provide an elongated narrow botbag and two relatively narrow end walls of the -bag and to.provide corner flaps of general triangular shape connecting the lside and end walls which are folded in overlapping relation upon and at the upper portion of the wide side walls of the bag. The narrow end walls of the bag are tucked or folded inwardly and provision is made for fastening the mouth of the bag preferably by a fastening device extended through the relatively large number of plies or thicknesses of the material forming the mouth of the bag.

In its preferred form, the present apparatus comprises in general, a bag forming die and a plunger adapted to be passed through the die to force .therethrough a sheet or blank `of the bag forming material supported on the die. -The plunger is of elongated rectangular shape in section and the principal opening in the die plate conforms generally to the shape of the plunger and is further provided with elongated corner flap receiving openings arranged to project from the wider sides of the die opening to form a part thereof. Provision is made for folding the corner flaps which project from the Wider sides of the plunger after the latter has passed through the die upon and into overlapping relation at the upper portion of the Aside walls of the bag. Provision is also made for tucking in the narrow end walls of the bag while the latter is supported .upon the plunger and the plunger may and preferably will be of tapered form to produce a bag of a structure in which the top of the bag is wider than the bottom of the bag. The plunger is preferably hollow to facilitate the introduction of tea or other commodity into the bag -prior to the complete withdrawal of the plunger from the bag after the formation thereof and in order to facilitate the subsequent operation of handling the lled bag and fastening the mouth thereof in its closed position, clamping means are provided, adapted to engage the mouth of the bag when the plunger has been withdrawn therefrom.. The clamping means may and preferably will be mounted upon a conveying element by which the sued and chased bag may be con- Aveyed to suitable instrumentalities for fastening the mouth of the bag and attaching the usual handle comprising a string and a tag thereto.

Referring lnow to the drawings, the present invention comprises, in general, novel and irnproved bag forming apparatus adapted to be incorporated in an automatic tea bagging machine of any usual or preferred form now upon the market, such tea bagging machines having protom portion, two relatively wide side Walls of the vision for feeding the bag forming material into operative position upon a bag forming die and for imparting vertical reciprocatory motion to a Y plunger operated in timed relation to the feed.

of the material and arranged to force the material through the die to form the bag. Such commercial tea. bagging machines are also provided with bag holding devices arranged to grasp the bag andconvey the latter to subsequent stations for closing the mouth of the bag and 'for attaching a string and tag thereto.

As herein shown, the present bag forming apparatus may comprise a die plate I8 upon which a blank or sheet of bag forming material I2 is supported, and a reciprocable forming block or plunger I4 adapted to force the material through the die to form the bag. The die plate I8 is supported upon standards I6 extending from the machine frame |8 and the die plate is provided with a central opening 28 and four elongated corner flap receiving openings 22 communicating with vthe central opening 28 and forming a part thereof. The plunger I4 is of elongated rectangular shape in section and is arranged to be vertically reciprocated through the die by suitable during the descentvof the plunger and as herein shown, for this purpose, a plurality of auxiliary folding plates 68, 62, l64, 66 are disposed in spaced relation below the die plate I8. Each auxiliary plate is provided with an opening therein adapted l to progressively fold the extended corner flap portions against the sides of the plunger to form the bag. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the first auxiliary plate 68 is provided with a central opening 68 and corner flap receiving openings 10 communicating therewith, the latter being narrower bag and to hold the latter against the wider sides be-engaged by the end of the'plunger to rock the folding plates when the plunger is lowered through the die. The die plate |8 is provided with cut out portions 36, 38 arranged to receive the folding plates when the latter are in their normal or horizontal position to permit the folding plates to lie flush with the top of the die plate. The folding plates are normally retained in their horizontal position with the portions 32, 34 extended in the path of the reciprocalpl'unger, by coil springs 48, 42, respectively, and suitable stop members 44, 46 are provided upon the underside of the die plate against which the folding plates rest while in their horizontal position.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5, it. will be observed that in `the operation of the device, when the plunger I4 descends the opposed folding plates 24, 24 will be rocked to fold the opposed portions 48, 58 of the blank of material up against the wider sides of the plunger, and, likewise, the

opposed folding plates 26, 26 will be rocked to fold the opposed portions 52; 54 of the blank up againstthe narrower sides of the plunger 4so as to yform a. bag of general H-shape in plan View, having extended corner flap portions 56, 58 which are received in the cut out portions 22 of the, die, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the movably mounted folding plates are arranged so that the opposed portions 48, 58 of the blank will be folded upwardly slightly in advance of the opposed of the plunger as it is lowered therethrough. The longitudinal edges 13, 15 of the depending portions serve as creasing members about which the overlapping corner portions are folded bythe supplemental plates 62, 64, 66 during the descent of the plunger. y

Referring now to Fig. 9, the second auxiliary plate 62 is provided with an opening 14 having two edges I6 arranged to move the corner ap portions 56 inwardly toward the sides 48, 58 of the bag at an angle of approximately 45 degrees while retaining the corner flap portions 58 in their previously extended position, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 As'herein shown, the plunger I4 is provided with longitudinal grooves 18, 88 into which the narrower sides`g52, 54 of the bag are arranged to be folded The opening 'I4 in the plate 62 is formed with inwardly extended portions 82, 84 which form the ends of the bag in preparation for reception in the grooves 18, 88, respectively The remaining auxiliary plates 64', 66 provided with openings 86, Y86, as illustrated in Figs 10,and 11, respectively,`are adapted to complete the corner flap folding operations, so that when the bag passes through the final plate 66, the flaps 58 will be folded in overlapping relation upon the Iiaps 58 and ragainst the sides 48, 58 of the bag. y l

Provision is made for folding the narrow end Walls 52, 54 of the bag while the latter is disposed upon the plunger I4 and as herein shown, a pair of pivotally mounted folding arms 90, 92

are disposed beneath the nal plate 66. In the A preferred embodiment of the invention, the folding arms are arranged to be rocked into position to fold the narrow end walls 52, 54 into the grooved portions 18, 88 of the plunger in timed relation to the` movement of the plunger, as it descends, and as herein shown, this may be accomplished through the medium of a cam 34 mounted upon a cam shaft 96 forming a part lof and driven through connections from the tea bearings |82 secured to the underside of the plate 66. The arms are connected to operate in unison by the cooperating gear segments |84, |86

One of the pins 98;-is provided with a lever |88 which is connected by a link ||8 to a cam lever I2 provided with a cam roller I|4 which is held in cooperative engagement vwith its 'cam 94 by a spring H6.

Provision is made for clamping together the mouth portion of the bag and for conveying' the vbag into subsequent stations of the tea bagging ment against the wider sides 48, 58 of the bag 75 lmachine for trimming the top of the bag, for applying a closure thereto and forattaching a v tag. .As herein shown, the clamping device may comprise a pair of clamping arms IIB, pivote` ally mounted in suitable ttings |22 carried by van intermittently operated chain conveyer |24.

- normally urged into clampingposition by springs |36 and each cam member |34 is provided with 'a cam surface |38 arranged to yhold the arms apart, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, until the chain arrives in operative position with relation to the bag. In operation, the clamping. arms may be yieldingly closed upon the sides of the bag while the latter is still upon the plunger and will operate to strip the bag from the plunger as the latter is withdrawn and will thereafter close upon the bag to support the latter. The clamping surfaces |40 may be faced with rubber or a similar material in order to obtain a lfirm grasp upon the bag. As shown in Fig. 7, the end folding'arms 90, 92 may be bent, as at |42, in order to permit the clamping surfaces |40 -to extend across the4 mouth of the bag. Before the chain conveyer is started on its way to present the bag to the next station of operation, the folding arms 50, 92 are rocked up out of the way of the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

In the operation of the machine, during the bag forming operation; a charge of tea or coffee is introduced through an opening in the plunger, so that when the latter. is withdrawn, a charge of the commodity being packed will be deposited in the bag. y

Referring now to Figs. 2 and '1, it will be observed that the end of the plunger is tapered along at least two of its sides as at |46, |48. The tapered form of the plunger is of particular advantage in the production of a folded bag of the present type because it facilitates the withdrawal of the plunger, particularly when operating at relatively high speeds. The resulting bag |50, as shown in Fig. 12, is of a structure in which the top of the bag is wider than the bottom of the bag. As a result of this construction. the overlapping folded portions 56, 58 are folded at a slight angle so that' the extreme ends |52. |54 of the triangular iiaps do not extend beyond the width of the bag as clearly shown in Fig. 12.

After the bag has been formed and lled, it may be conveyed to a subsequent station where the top of the bag is Atrimmed along the dotted line indicated in Fig. 12. Thereafter the bag may be closed in any usual manner such as by runshape in section having grooves in its narrower sides and adapted to pass through said opening to force a bag forming blank supported upon the f die plate through the opening, said die plate being provided with two sets of corner flap receiving slots forming part of the opening in the jdie plate and extending in a direction to cause the corner flaps toproject outwardly from the wider sides of the plunger, auxiliary/'means cooperating with the plunger and 'the partially formed bag supported thereon for folding the projecting cornery flaps into overlapping relation upon the wider sides of the plunger, and means cooperating with said grooves for folding in the narrow ends of the formed bag for substantially the full length of the bag.

2. In apparatus for producing a tea or similar bag, in combination, a die plate having an opening therein, a plunger of elongated' rectangular I Voperating with said grooves vfor folding'in the narrow ends of the formed bag for substantially ning the bag past a stitching head, not shown,

to provide a sewn top |56 as shown in Fig. 14, and a chain |58 of the threadmay be extended beyond the bag to which the usual tag |60 may be attached.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forr'ns within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for producing a tea or similar 'bag in combination, a die plate having an openshape in section having grooves in its narrower sides and adapted to pass through said opening to force a bag forming blank supported upon the die plate through the' opening, said die plate beprojecting corner flaps into overlapping relation upon the wider sides of the plunger, meansycothe full length of the bag, and clamping means engaging'the mouth of the bag to close the mouth thereof l 3. In apparatus for producing a tea or similar bag, in combination, a die plate having an opening therein, a plunger of elongated rectangular shape in section having grooves in its narrower sides and adapted to pass through said opening to force a bag forming blank supported upon the die plate through the opening, said die plate being provided with'two sets of corner flap receiving slots forming part of the'opening in the die plate and extending in a direction to cause the corner flaps to project outwardly from the wider sides of the plunger, auxiliary means cooperating with the plunger and the partially vformed bag supported thereon after the latter has passed through the die plate for folding the projecting corner flaps into overlapping Arelation upon the wider sides of the plunger, means cooperating with said grooves for folding in the" narrow ends of the formed bag for substantially the full length of the bag, a conveyor, and clamping means mounted upon the conveyer and ar.-y ranged to engage and clamp together the mouth of the bag to operatively support the bag upon the conveyer 4. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, bag forming means including a die,

lwalls inwardly into said grooves while the bag is still supported on the, plunger.

5. In apparatus of the character described. in

combination, bag forming means including a die,

a plunger of unequal sectional dimensions adapted to be reciprocated therethrough, said die beg ing so shaped as to fold a fibrous. sheet positioned thereon directly around the plunger to form a bag having bottom, side and end walls when said plunger is reciprocated through said die,

said plungerbeing provided with longitudinal grooves in its narrow end walls againstwhich `the end walls of the bag are disposed, and means `disposed beneath said die for folding in said end ,walls of the bag into said grooves.

6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, bag forming means comprising a `die and a plunger adapted to be reciprocatedtherethrough, said die including an upper plate having an opening therein, hinged members disposed adjacent said opening and having portions thereof normally disposed in the path of said lplunger, said hinged members being operative to swing upwardly to fold' a iibrous'sheet against the sides of said plunger when engaged by the latter during its downward movement and a plurality of spaced apartsupplemental plates disposed beneath said upper plate, each plate being provided with an opening therein adapted to progressively fold said nbrous sheet around said plunger to form a bag having bottom, side and end walls, saidplunger being provided with longitudinal grooves in the sides adjacentsaid spaanse end walls, and means for folding said end walls inwardly into said grooves for substantially the full length of the bag.

7. In apparatus of the character described, in Y die plate being provided with two sets of 4corner flapk receiving slots extending in the direction to cause the corner flaps to project outwardly on opposite sides of the plunger, and means disposed beneath th'e die plate for completingv the bag formation by folding said corner flaps in overlapping relation against the' aforesaid sides of said plunger and means cooperating with saidA i grooves for forming a bellows fold in the remaining sides of the bag for substantially thefull length of the bag.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a forming member of unequal dimensions having longitudinal grooves in two opposed sides thereof, means'for folding a fibrous` sheet about the forming member to provide a bag having corner naps, means for subsequently folding the comer ilaps into overlapping relation upon the wider sides of the bag, and means cooperating with said grooves for forming a bellows fold in the remaining sides of the bag for substantially' the full length of the bag.

LEWIS B. EATON. 

